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In his first start in the majors this season, Ross Detwiler has been about as good as the Nationals could have hoped. He's allowed just two hits, including an infield single, gotten five groundouts and kept the Cubs scoreless after his throwing error in the third inning - pitching out of a jam in a spot where he got burned several times last season.
He's thrown 58 pitches, 35 of them strikes, and the Nationals have a 3-0 lead over the Cubs. But Detwiler's problem has always been getting hitters out the second and third time through the lineup, and he'll probably have to get through Chicago's order at least one more time.
Hitters have just a .227 average off Detwiler in his career in his first time through a lineup, but that number jumps to .313 the second time through. And in their third plate appearance, hitters have a .396 average and a 1.072 OPS against him. He's only given up one hit six batters into his second trip through the order. We'll see if he can keep it up.
